WATCH: Snow in Laois on Portlaoise Main Street #sneachta

The cold snap has hit Laois with sleety snow falling on Portlaoise's Main St.

Met Éireann national forecast issued at 11.55am on November 19.

Tuesday 19th November
Cold and cloudy with further scattered outbreaks of rain. The odd wintry fall will occur locally further north of the country. Becoming dry by this evening with some clear spells. Highest temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees in a chilly northerly breeze, though a little less cold across southwest counties. Frost will set in quickly after dark.

The night will be mostly dry with clear spells. A few showers will drift into northern areas, turning wintry at times. Very cold with frost and icy patches. Lowest temperatures 0 to -3 degrees, in a light to moderate northwest breeze.

Wednesday 20th November
Wednesday will begin cold and crisp with frost and ice, perhaps lingering all day in sheltered spots. Dry for most for daylight hours with low sunshine, though a few wintry showers will continue to move into Ulster. Later in the evening, a wintry spell of rain will move into west and southwest counties with local sleet. Another cold day with highs of 3 to 6 degrees, in light to moderate mostly northwest winds.

Rain will continue to push in from the Atlantic at night with some uncertainty in its track but mainly affecting Munster, part of Connacht and later parts of south Leinster. Falls of sleet and snow are likely with some accumulations possible, particularly in the southwest. Elsewhere will be mostly dry with wintry showers continuing near northern coasts though some patches of fog or freezing fog may develop. Frost and ice will develop with lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees in light to moderate easterly or variable winds, freshening at times for Munster

Thursday: Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow will clear from southern areas through the morning to leave another cold day with scattered wintry showers, most frequent for northern and Atlantic areas. Highest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees generally in light to moderate northwest winds, a little milder near Atlantic coasts where the winds will be fresher.

Thursday night: Cold with frost and icy stretches developing again. Dry with clear spells for most though scattered wintry showers will persist near northern and Atlantic coasts. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees in moderate westerly winds, fresher near coasts.

Friday: Cold, bright and mostly dry to start with continued wintry showers near northern and Atlantic coasts. The sunshine will turn hazier through the day and the showers will ease. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees generally in mostly light westerly winds.

Some uncertainty in the timing but current indications suggest it will turn wet and windy from the southwest overnight. Some transient falls of sleet and snow are possible early on but will quickly turn to rain with strengthening southeasterly winds. Localised flooding is possible. Lowest temperatures early in the night of 0 to 4 degrees for most but -3 to 0 degrees in Ulster.

Saturday: A wet and windy day with heavy spells of rain leading to localised flooding. Much milder with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees.

Sunday: A breezy or windy day with showers or longer spells of rain. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in strong southwesterly winds.